9 | Erling Haaland - 2024/25

[kippaxchris]

We were doing alright in the 5 wins without him

Because the current tactics don't suit him, Pep needs to either play to Haalands strengths or not use him.

 

[DMA's]

Don’t care what anyone says we are an easier team to play against with him in the side under pep. We become so much more predictable and he offers nothing in the build up as his touch is like a trampoline.

We need to move on from this style of football if we are to get the best from this guy.

 

[Craig]

The only player I can not blame today due to the lack of service.

Having a pen to take should be pretty good service for an elite striker. Offers nothing whatsoever if the service isn’t on a plate. When teams have 10 behind the ball it’s very difficult to get him the service he needs. As he rarely get on to any crosses from corners

 

[Craig]

He can’t go from a world class player to a useless one all of a sudden. The system is not suiting his abilities and we are not playing to his immense strength.

He’s not become useless but equally he’s never been a world class footballer. He’s a world class goal scorer and there is a big difference

 

[Gabriel]

Don’t care what anyone says we are an easier team to play against with him in the side under pep. We become so much more predictable and he offers nothing in the build up as his touch is like a trampoline.

We need to move on from this style of football if we are to get the best from this guy.

Don’t disagree, but how do we move on if the opposition deliberately retreats to their box and refuse to attack other than on the counter? We arguably need players that are capable of dropping out of the front line and shifting defenders, a job requiring speed in small spaces and touch, which are not Haaland’s prime strengths.

 

[bluenova]

Don’t care what anyone says we are an easier team to play against with him in the side under pep. We become so much more predictable and he offers nothing in the build up as his touch is like a trampoline.

We need to move on from this style of football if we are to get the best from this guy.

I'd normally agree - but then Palace sat back and gave us so much control, that I'm not sure what else another more mobile/passing player could add. A fully fit and sharp Haaland, pretty much roving the box, was what we needed today.

 

[Edghill OG]

He’s not become useless but equally he’s never been a world class footballer. He’s a world class goal scorer and there is a big difference

100 percent this. Pretty much a passenger when teams defend deep and 95 percent of the teams we face these days do.

His strengths are balls in behind to run on to. The opposition have neutralised this by camping on their own 18 yard box. He's poor in the air for his size and his touch isn't good enough to play it into feet and bring others into play. If you aren't able to do that the least you should be doing is throwing centre half's about, making their life uncomfortable and being a presence. Unfortunately he seems quite content for games to simply pass him by.

 

[Damanino]

I can see friction develop between him and Pep. he says it out load we are shit and boring this season including himself. if only response from Pep ask the players why they are shit there will be problems.

 

[Tevez City]

He return from injury & ended the team winning run

 

[Claytop]

I find it particularly telling that weve seen no meaningful improvement in our team wide goal tallies in the 3 years since he arrived.

All he has done has made us more 1-dimensional in attack.

We were playing better before he returned from injury.

180 minutes back in and zero goals for the team.

I might be more forgiving if he was a game changer in the big matches but those are the ones where he goes missing the most.

Beginning to think he is nothing more than a flat track bully.... And now we've built our entire attacking structure around him...,.. just great.

This has been noted before when he was at his other clubs, whilst his goal scoring record is second to none the team itself usually scored less goals overall with Haaland scoring most.

Pep needs to come up with a plan for next season because clubs have figured how to defend against him/us.

 

[Dax777]

Sadly, his return has been detrimental to our team progress. :(. Granted, i mostly blame the manager for that.

 

[Gorbachev]

I'm no Pep outer, but if he wants to get the best out of Haaland next season he is going to have to get his wingers to start crossing the ball from the wings and having fullback properly overlapping and creating overloads and cutbacks.

If he carries on with this inverted fullback nonsense and cut it wingers we might as well call it a day with Haaland.

I'm astonished he has the numbers he has this year considering how utterly bang average we are at creating goals.

 

[RayCTID]

30 goals in a struggling side is not to be sniffed at in general. Was unfortunate with Henderson's stop before Palace scoring with their first meaningful chance.

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

Are

Why’s the **** tried to turn the best number 9 in world football into Niall Quinn? Haaland’s game is all about runs in behind, yet for months, he’s suddenly turned into a striker that lurks at the far post?

you calling Pep a ****? U ungrateful what you called Pep. Disgusting behaviour. Pep is the greatest regardless of what happened today

 

[Kun Blue]

Are

you calling Pep a ****? U ungrateful what you called Pep. Disgusting behaviour. Pep is the greatest regardless of what happened today

It’s more than today it’s all season. Don’t think you fully understand Mancunian terminology if you think **** is properly offensive.

 

[urban genie]

Haaland, marmoush, and even the young lad today.

all suffer from our sideways crab football

the amount of times they make movements for a through ball just to be ignored and them passed to when they have 2 on them

 

[Big Yaya Wilko 12]

Bottling a penalty in an Fa cup final is unforgivable.

Not even counting the fact he’s been a mannequin for 6 months.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Tbf if he didn't fancy it I rather he did give it up. Seen thousands of penalties over the years taken by players who clearly don't want it and it never goes well.

It's his fucking job to stick it in the net. Whether he fancies it or not. Passing it on to someone else makes it feel like he's fucking missed it twice, to me.

 

[decmancity]

It's his fucking job to stick it in the net. Whether he fancies it or not. Passing it on to someone else makes it feel like he's fucking missed it twice, to me.

Marmoush's job as well.

Haaland has missed, plenty. His penalty technique is shite.

 

[nicko]

The fact he didn’t have the bottle to take a massive penalty like that speaks volumes. Thats what 20 million a year for 10 years doesn’t pay for.